City of art, hills, lakes, the Alps, millenary traditions: the territory of Torino offers extraordinary experiences...
And it couldn’t be otherwise, since it acts as a crown to the first capital of Italia!
Yes, because Torino is an aristocratic “old lady” more than two thousand years old: you will notice this simply by walking along the streets and around the squares, admiring the city’s monuments, the elegant Royal Residences, the Baroque churches, the new neighborhoods and the innovative buildings, visiting the prestigious museums, indulging in the small pleasures of life in historic cafes... an old lady reborn from her own ashes more dynamic, innovative and modern than ever but always proud of her great past.
Crossed by the Po and surrounded by the western Alps, Torino was defined by Le Corbusier as “the city with the most beautiful natural position”.
The hills that are reflected in the river - full of hiking trails - welcome small treasures such as the Juvarra Basilica of Superga, Moncalieri and its royal castle, Chieri with the “rubatà” breadsticks, Pecetto and its cherries, Marentino and honey... and just a little further away, Carmagnola with its famous peppers.
What about the surrounding area, among other things crossed by four itineraries of the Via Francigena? First of all the mountains, the ideal terrain for all kinds of outdoor activities 365 days a year! The Alps of Alta Val Susa and Chisone, site of the 20th Olympic Winter Games of Torino 2006, are perfect locations for lovers of skiing and snow with the districts of Vialattea and Bardonecchia, while the Gran Paradiso National Park (the first national park to be created in Italia) characterizes the Orco and Soana Valleys and its “capital” Ceresole Reale - one of the Pearls of the Alps - in the triumph of summer trekking; the Lanzo Valleys, moreover, were for a long time the holiday resorts of the Torino aristocracy and bourgeoisie... and it shows!
Susa Valley is dominated by the imposing Sacra di San Michele, a medieval monastery, symbol of the Piemonte Region, by ancient fortresses such as the millenary Exilles Fort and the “Porta d'Italia”, Susa, whose origins and Roman splendor have many witnesses throughout the entire city.
Another unicum is the Morainic Amphitheatre in Ivrea, a complex of hills, lakes, rivers, peat bogs and rocks designed by the Quaternary glaciers that surround the Canavese capital, entered as part of the UNESCO World Heritage List as “Ivrea Industrial City of the Twentieth Century” alongside the Ducal Castle of Agliè, the Shrine of Belmonte and the Pile-dwelling Site of Azeglio.
Pinerolo, the centuries-old epicenter of the history of the cavalry, is not far from the incredible Fenestrelle Fort, unique in Europe and symbol of the Province of Torino; the surrounding valleys (with Torre Pellice in the centre) have a Waldensian heart which is expressed both in its evangelical faith and in its customs and traditions. This area is also home to Italy's first immersive biopark, the Zoom Torino Biopark.
But there is still much more to discover!